Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a heavy favorite to defeat Marcos Maidana on May 3, but the brash pound-for-pound champion is not taking the power-punching Argentine lightly at all. "El Chino" floored Mayweather's protégé Adrien Broner twice in December of 2013, and fights a style that "Money" seems somewhat wary of.

Maidana out "to hurt" Floyd Mayweather on May 3

"Maidana deserves the opportunity," Mayweather said. "He's a champion with an 80 per cent knockout ratio."

Mayweather's known to have exceptional hand speed, but he hinted he won't be very aggressive against Maidana-instead he may rely on his cat-quick reflexes. "everything isn't about speed. "Everything in boxing and life is about timing. I'm a fighter that likes to take my time and be smart. Some fighters like to be reckless. You see what happens when fighters are reckless," Mayweather said.

Sergio Martinez warns fans don't count out Maidana

"'Boxing is like chess. Every move has to be thought about before you make it. I like to study my opponents first. I'm not going to do a lot of moving when I get in the ring. I'm coming straight ahead."

Maidana was chosen over British star Amir Khan, despite months of rumors that indicated it was all but settled he would be the choice. Maidana's upset over Broner made him the more relevant fighter, perhaps proving Khan's decision to back out of a Devon Alexander fight was not a good one.

"(Maidana) is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. This is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him - beat me."

Maidana's trainer Robert Garcia agrees that his fighter poses great danger to Floyd's unbeaten record. "I guess that it's true about those who have tried to come forward against Floyd. But the fact is that Floyd never has faced a fighter with the power and the heart and the determination of Maidaina, who is one of those guys who is not worried about who is front of him."

Make your pick! Mayweather or Maidana @SportsWN